Clarke Auto Dimming Helmet

[WisetonMikey]

Hi Chaps, been welding my restoration project for 9 months or so now on weekends (when I can get away with it) and it's going well. My welding has come on well from very iffy beginnings. Discovering early on to slow down the torch speed and keep settings to 1 and low and wire on 12 oclock helped, but there's one thing I can't seem to get right.......I can only see the immediate white hot arround the wire and and a little bit of the pool. At times its as if I'm welding blind. I've got the helmet turned to the lowest setting on the side, but still it's not easy. Does anyone know, is it the helmet or are they all like that? I'd happily spend £150 to improve things because I recon my welding would be miles better. In case you missed the title it's a clarke basic model that cost around £75.

 

[rtbcomp]

This is a common problem, try marking the line with chalk just to one side and/or increase the ambient lighting.

You could also touch the line of the weld with a grinding wheel, the bright metal will show up better (and probably make for a better weld).

 

[cookie munsta]

i find if using mig/ stick shade 11 should be dark enough to prevent damage and light enough to know whats going on. keep your s*&t clean and anti and anti fog and the result shoulkd be ok.

 

[Rooster#1]

I find like a LOT easier under the car with one of these :

 

[WisetonMikey]

Thanks for your help chaps. It seems ambient lighting is the answer; actually its one of the biggest problems in my garage. I'll get an arc lamp as suggested, one low, one high. Good tip with the chalk/grinder mark.
Regards Mike